Bristol dairy trade leads at 2400gns

Five Holstein heifers topped the 2000gns mark at Bristol this week, with Geoff Williams of the noted Penrikka herd consigning the top priced heifer at 2400 guineas. Bred from five generations of VG/EX cows she sold four weeks calved giving 34 litres to Paul Rymer  for his Iftonhill herd, Newport.

Mr Rymer, bidding over the telephone from his holiday deckchair on the Pembrokeshire coast purchased four heifers including Hinton Shottle Rosalind 2, one of five heifers sold for R D Horton and Son, for 2300gns.

Served heifers were a level trade selling up to 1600gns for a Shottle daughter from Peter Andrews’ Ruckhall herd and a consignment of 26 maidens, all aged less than 11 months, sold well for David Banham, Skegness averaging over more than £620 and peaking at 740gns.

The dispersal of Messrs P Jakeman and Partners’ commercial herd of Guernseys drew the most spirited bidding of the day and regular supporter Geoff Turbutt purchased the top price in this section.

His pick at 1420gns was a young cow due in the autumn. Her heifer calf at foot made 400gns to John Fowler, Whitland, who purchased several cattle of both Guernsey and Friesian breeds.  Mr Turbutt also snapped up two fine fresh calved Guernsey heifers consigned by Malcolm & Stuart Trevor-Jones at 1500gns and 1480gns.

Averages; pedigree section – 22 calved heifers £1783.09, 17 served heifers £1241.47, three bulls £1645; non pedigree section 39 cows £1062.65, eight served heifers £1214.06, 26 maiden heifers £624.34; Guernsey dispersal – non pedigree 58    cows and calved heifers £1030.99, 51 maiden heifers    £404.76, two calved heifers £1564.50 ; Jerseys  10 maiden heifers £393.75  (Norton and Brooksbank with Gwilym Richards).